"Hush, for Heaven's Sake!"; I handed it to him with an expression of agonised entreaty.
He tore it in two, and threw it back at me across the table.
The rest of them rose in alarm, not knowing what might happen next.
I instantly sat down again in my corner.
There had once been an occasion, under somewhat similar circumstances, when Miss Jane Ann Stamper had been taken by the two shoulders and turned out of a room.
I waited, inspired by HER spirit, for a repetition of HER martyrdom.
But no--it was not to be.
His wife was the next person whom he addressed.
"Who--who--who," he said, stammering with rage, "who asked this impudent fanatic into the house? Did you?"
Before Aunt Ablewhite could say a word, Rachel answered for her.
"Miss Clack is here," she said, "as my guest."
Those words had a singular effect on Mr. Ablewhite.
They suddenly changed him from a man in a state of red-hot anger to a man in a state of icy-cold contempt.
It was plain to everybody that Rachel had said something--short and plain as her answer had been--which gave him the upper hand of her at last.
"Oh?" he said.
"Miss Clack is here as YOUR guest--in MY house?"
It was Rachel's turn to lose her temper at that. Her colour rose, and her eyes brightened fiercely.
She turned to the lawyer, and, pointing to Mr. Ablewhite, asked haughtily,
"What does he mean?"
Mr. Bruff interfered for the third time.
"You appear to forget," he said, addressing Mr. Ablewhite, "that you took this house as Miss Verinder's guardian, for Miss Verinder's use."
"Not quite so fast," interposed Mr. Ablewhite. "I have a last word to say, which I should have said some time since, if this----" He looked my way, pondering what abominable name he should call me--"if this Rampant Spinster had not interrupted us.
I beg to inform you, sir, that, if my son is not good enough to be Miss Verinder's husband, I cannot presume to consider his father good enough to be Miss Verinder's guardian.
Understand, if you please, that I refuse to accept the position which is offered to me by Lady Verinder's will.
In your legal phrase, I decline to act.
This house has necessarily been hired in my name.
I take the entire responsibility of it on my shoulders.
It is my house.
I can keep it, or let it, just as I please.
I have no wish to hurry Miss Verinder.
On the contrary, I beg her to remove her guest and her luggage, at her own entire convenience."
He made a low bow, and walked out of the room.
That was Mr. Ablewhite's revenge on Rachel, for refusing to marry his son!
The instant the door closed, Aunt Ablewhite exhibited a phenomenon which silenced us all.
She became endowed with energy enough to cross the room!
"My dear," she said, taking Rachel by the hand, "I should be ashamed of my husband, if I didn't know that it is his temper which has spoken to you, and not himself.
You," continued Aunt Ablewhite, turning on me in my corner with another endowment of energy, in her looks this time instead of her limbs--"you are the mischievous person who irritated him.
I hope I shall never see you or your tracts again."
She went back to Rachel and kissed her.
"I beg your pardon, my dear," she said, "in my husband's name.
What can I do for you?"
Consistently perverse in everything--capricious and unreasonable in all the actions of her life--Rachel melted into tears at those commonplace words, and returned her aunt's kiss in silence.
"If I may be permitted to answer for Miss Verinder," said Mr. Bruff, "might I ask you, Mrs. Ablewhite, to send Penelope down with her mistress's bonnet and shawl.
Leave us ten minutes together," he added, in a lower tone, "and you may rely on my setting matters right, to your satisfaction as well as to Rachel's."
The trust of the family in this man was something wonderful to see.
Without a word more, on her side, Aunt Ablewhite left the room.
"Ah!" said Mr. Bruff, looking after her.
"The Herncastle blood has its drawbacks, I admit.
But there IS something in good breeding after all!"
Having made that purely worldly remark, he looked hard at my corner, as if he expected me to go.